Karen Barrett

Dr. Barrett is an Assistant Professor at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), where she studies the neuroscience of musical creativity, aging, and hearing. Her research examines the neural mechanisms of musical improvisation, how music can promote cognitive and emotional health in older adults and people living with dementia, and music perception in hard of hearing individuals, such as those with cochlear implants. As a cognitive neuroscientist and trained Classical pianist, Dr. Barrett enjoys bridging interdisciplinary worlds to leverage music and the creative arts for health and well-being.